U.S. patent number 4,361,407 [Application Number 06/275,680] was granted by the patent office on 1982-11-30 for stationary mixer device arranged to homogeneously mix two or more components in liquid or semiliquid state.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Centro Ricerche Fiat S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Vittorio Pellegrini.
United States Patent |
4,361,407 |
Pellegrini |
November 30, 1982 |
Stationary mixer device arranged to homogeneously mix two or more
components in liquid or semiliquid state
Abstract
The device comprises a plurality of superimposable elements, in
each of which there are formed cavities and holes arranged to
originate channels for conveying the components, the said channels
being disposed so as to originate a plurality of channel assemblies
disposed in series to each other, each assembly comprising a first
central channel, second channels with axes are substantially
orthogonal to the axis of the said first channel, which second
channels communicate with this latter and are disposed radially
with respect to it, third channels, each of which has its axis
parallel to that of the said first channel and originates from a
corresponding second channel, and fourth channels whose axes are
substantially orthogonal to the axis of the said first channels and
which are disposed radially with respect to it.
Inventors: |
Pellegrini; Vittorio (Novara,
IT) |
Assignee: |
Centro Ricerche Fiat S.p.A.
(Orbassano, IT)
|
Family
ID: |
11307158 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/275,680 |
Filed: |
June 22, 1981 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
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Jun 27, 1980 [IT] |
|
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68009 A/80 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
366/340; 422/133;
422/135; 422/224 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01F
5/0644 (20130101); F27D 27/00 (20130101); F27D
3/0025 (20130101); F27D 2001/0053 (20130101); F27D
3/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01F
5/06 (20060101); F27D 23/04 (20060101); F27D
23/00 (20060101); F27D 3/00 (20060101); F27D
1/00 (20060101); F27D 3/14 (20060101); B01F
005/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;366/336,337,340,338,339
;138/38,42 ;48/18R,18F,18B ;422/133,135,224 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Jenkins; Robert W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Frost & Jacobs
Claims
I claim:
1. A mixer device arranged to homogeneously mix two or more
components in liquid or semiliquid state, particularly the
components of a mixture comprising a solid phase and a liquid phase
of a metal alloy, characterized in comprising a plurality of
superimposable elements, in each of which there are formed cavities
and holes arranged to give rise to channels for conveying the said
components, the said channel being disposed in such a manner as to
originate a plurality of channel assemblies disposed in series to
each other, each assembly comprising a first central channel,
second channels whose axes are substantially orthogonal to that of
the said first channel and which communicate with the said first
channel and are disposed radially relative to it, third channels
each of which has its axis parallel to that of the said first
channel and originates from a corresponding second channel, and
fourth channels whose axes are substantially orthogonal to the axis
of the said first channel and which are disposed radially with
respect to it, each of the said fourth channels being in
communication with one of the said third channels and with the
first channel of an adjacent assembly.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the said
superimposable elements are of two different types, in elements of
a first type there being formed the said second and third channels
and in the elements of a second type there being formed the said
fourth channels and the said first channel.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that each of
the said superimposable elements is plate-shaped, the said first
type elements comprising a plurality of cavities formed on a
surface of the said plate in a substantially radial arrangement,
and a plurality of holes arranged to traverse the said plate and
each of which communicates with one of the said cavities, the said
cavities and the said holes being arranged to generate the said
second and third channels, respectively.
4. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the said
elements of the second type comprise a plurality of cavites formed
on a surface of the said plate in a substantially radial
arrangement and a central hole arranged to traverse the said plate
and communicating with the said cavity, the said cavities and the
said hole being arranged to generate the said fourth channels and
the said first channel, respectively.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the said
superimposable elements are cylindrical plate-shaped, on each of
the said first type elements there being formed a cylindrical
projection arranged to engage a corresponding cylindrical cavity of
a second type element in order to center one element with respect
to another.
6. A device as claimed in claim 1,
characterized in that in at least one of the said superimposable
elements there are formed conduits for the circulation of a cooling
fluid.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mixer device arranged to
homogeneously mix two or more components in liquid or semiliquid
state, particularly the components of a mixture comprising a solid
phase and a liquid phase of a metal alloy of the type of those
which are utilized in the so-called "semiliquid molding
processes".
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a device of
the type mentioned hereinabove, which, though being structurally
very simple, will allow to rapidly mix a plurality of components
with a high degree of mixing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of
the type mention hereinabove, in which the mixing degree will be
easily and rapidly variable by adding or eliminating some elements
of the device in order to adapt it to any mixing requirement.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an easily
and safely usable device which, thus, will allow both a rapid and
safe cleaning of its parts traversed by the material, and an
immediate substitution of the worn or damaged elements.
Finally, a further object of the present invention is to provide a
mixer device which will allow obtaining a desired thermal gradient
in the material which moves along the device, in order to
rigorously control the characteristics of the material, in
particular the ratio between the concentrations of the liquid and
solid phases of a metal alloy, which ratio is affected by the said
thermal gradient.
The mixer device according to the present invention is
characterized in comprising a plurality of superimposable elements,
in each of which there are formed cavities and holes arranged to
give rise to channels for conveying the said components, the said
channels being disposed in such a manner as to originate a
plurality of channel assemblies disposed in series to each other,
each assembly comprising a first central channel, second channels
whose axes are substantially orthogonal to that of the said first
channel and which communicate with the said first channel and are
disposed radially relative to it, third channels each of which has
its axis parallel to that of the said first channel and originates
from a corresponding second channel, and fourth channels whose axes
are substantially orthogonal to the axis of the said first channel
and which are disposed radially with respect to it, each of the
said fourth channels being in communication with one of the said
third channels and with the first channel of an adjacent
assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present invention an embodiment
thereof will now be described, by way of non limiting example, with
reference to the annexed drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a vertical section of the device;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are, respectively, a plan view and a section along
line III--III, of a first superimposable element which is part of
the device;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are, respectively, a plan view and a section along
line V--V, of a second superimposable element which is part of the
device;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view, in disassembled condition, of the
first and second superimposable elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The device according to the present invention comprises
substantially a plurality of superimposable elements, on each of
which there are formed cavities and holes arranged to originate
channels for conveying the liquid or semiliquid components to be
intimately mixed with each other.
In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the said superimposable
elements are shaped like cylindrical plates and are of two
different types: those of a first type, indicated by reference
numeral 1, are shown in plan view and in sectional view in FIGS. 2
and 3 respectively, and those of the second type, indicated by
reference numeral 2, are shown in plan view and in sectional view
in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively.
The superimposable elements of the first type comprise
substantially a plurality of cavities 3 disposed radially and
formed on a corresponding surface 4s of the element; each of the
said cavities communicates both with a central cavity 5 and a
corresponding hole 6 which traverses the said element and whose
axis is substantially parallel to the axis of symmetry of the
element itself.
The superimposable elements of the second type (FIGS. 4 and 5) are
also provided with a plurality of radially extending cavities 7 on
the surface 8s of the said element, angularly shifted like the
cavities 3 of the other element 1, as well as with a central axial
hole 9 which traverses the element itself and with which the ends
of the cavities 7 communicate.
To position in a rigorous manner the elements of the two types 1
and 2 when they are superimposed, as has been shown in FIG. 1,
suitable centering means are provided which are arranged to make
substantially coincide the axes of two contiguous elements. These
means may comprise cylindrical projections 10 and corresponding
cavities 11, formed, respectively, on the end surfaces 4i, 4s of
the element 1 and 8i and 8s of the element 2 and arranged to mate
with each other; it is clear, anyway, that also other means may be
conceived for positioning and centering the superimposed elements
of the two types when they are stacked.
Conveniently, in the elements of the second type 2 there may be
formed conduits 12 for the circulation of a cooling (or heating)
fluid, which conduits are arranged to be connected to a suitable
control circuit for controlling the temperature.
The device according to the present invention further comprises a
conveying nosepiece 13 (FIG. 1) which is provided with a central
hole 14 whose axis substantially coincides with the axis of the
elements 1 and 2 and which is arranged to convey the material to be
mixed to the assembly of superposed elements 1 and 2.
The mixer device is assembled by forming a stack with a
predetermined number of elements of the two types disposed
alternatively. In this way a plurality of channel assemblies are
defined which are connected in series to each other; in fact, as
can be seen in FIG. 1, three contiguous elements of the stack
define an assembly comprising a first axial channel 21 which
originates from the corresponding hole 9 of the element 2, a
plurality of second radial channels 22 which originate from the
cavity 3 of the subsequent element 1 and from the bottom surface 8i
of the preceding element, a plurality of substantially axial third
channels 23, each of which communicates with a corresponding
channel 22 and is originated by a hole 6 of the said element 1, as
well as a plurality of fourth radial channels 24, each of which
communicates with a channel 23 and is originated by a cavity 7 of
the successive element 2 and by a bottom surface 4i of the
preceding element.
The device described hereinabove operates as follows.
A material to be mixed, in the liquid or semiliquid state and
comprising a plurality of components, is supplied through the hole
14 of the nosepiece 13. The said components may be of any kind,
provided they are in a physical state which allows them to move
through the assembly of channels described hereinabove, when they
are supplied under pressure through the hole 14 of the nosepiece
13; thus, the components may be those which are utilized in the
industry of plastic materials (such as fluid polymers), in the
chemical industry (such as chemical products of various nature), in
the pharmaceutical industry (preparation of pastes and creams of
various types), or in the food industry (for the preparation of
sauces, homogenized products or the like).
The device described hereinabove has also proved to be particularly
suitable for applications in the metallurgical field for the
preparation of mixtures comprising a solid phase and a liquid phase
of a metal alloy of the type of those which are utilized in the
forming processes referred to as "semiliquid forming
processes".
The components to be mixed are first conveyed as a single axial
flow generated by the first channel 21 (or by the hole 14 of the
nosepiece 13); this flow is then divided into a plurality of flows
which move, first, radially towards the outside (in the second
channels 22), then axially (in the third channels 23) and finally,
still in a radial direction, towards the inside (in the fourth
channels 24); then, the thus obtained flows are joined together
again to give rise to a successive mixing cycle.
When the various flows come together again at the end of each
mixing cycle, coming from the fourth channels 24 to converge in the
first channel 21 of the successive assembly of channels, there is
obtained a movement which gives rise to a very intense mixing
action. This action is due both to the high speed of the flows
which converge in a star-like manner through the fourth channels 24
in a very narrow zone which is that of the mouth of the first
channel 21, and to the sudden variation of the direction and the
speeds which takes place at the passage between the said fourth
channels and the said first channel.
In fact, it has been found that a good mixing of the components is
obtained already with few mixing stages, even with only three
mixing stages.
Moreover, the device according to the present invention lends
itself to be immediately adapted to different conditions of mixing,
which conditions may be varied both as a function of the nature of
components to be mixed, and in view of obtaining different final
results. In fact, the addition or the elimination of a
predetermined number of elements of the two types 1 and 2 may be
carried out in a considerably simple and quick manner.
In addition, the cleaning of the various elements may be carried
out thoroughly and without difficulties, because some of the
channels of the assembly (channels 22 and 24) are generated by open
cavities (cavities 3 and 7) and therefore are easily accessible.
Any eventual damage or an excessive wear of one or more elements of
the device may be remedied easily and quickly; in fact, to this end
it is sufficient to substitute these elements by separating them
from the adjacent elements; this operation requires only to axially
displace the elements situated abovethe element which has to be
substituted and this latter with respect to the other elements, in
order to disengage the cylindrical projections 10 from the
corresponding cavities 11.
Finally, in the material which moves along the device it is
possible to create any thermal gradient whatever by supplying
through the conduits 12 into the elements 2 a fluid at a
predetermined temperature. This control of the temperature of the
material may result in being particularly advantageous in the case
of the formation of a mixture comprising a solid phase and a liquid
phase of a metal alloy; in fact, it is well-known that the ratio
between the concentrations of the said two phases in the mixture
depends on the temperature of the mixture, and therefore it may be
suitable to vary this temperature with the mixing degree of the
mixture.
As long as the material to be mixed which moves in the channels of
the device has not reached a service condition of operation, the
temperature of the fluid which is supplied into the conduits 12 may
be varied; for example, in the case of a metal alloy of the type
specified hereinabove it may be suitable to heat the alloy at the
beginning of the treatment and successively cool it.
It is clear that modifications and variations may be made to the
device described hereinabove, without departing from the scope of
the invention. Eash assembly formed by the first channel 21, the
second channels 22, the third channels 23 and the fourth channels
24, which are, respectively, radial, axial and radial again, may be
realized in a manner different from the manner which has been
described hereinabove, by forming on superimposable elements, of
any configuration, cavities and holes disposed in accordance with
configurations which are able to give rise to the assembly itself
when the said elements are superimposed on each other.
* * * * *